I can cook. I mean… I can really cook. I can walk around in a pair of heels without looking like a weirdo…. and I know how to apply lip liner if the occasion requires.
I am not, however, a domestic goddess. Not at all. Nope.
I’m not one of those ladies who has Christmas ornaments in the basement. I don’t have a shelving system dedicated to wrapping paper and corresponding ribbons. I don’t even know what a holiday wreath is. Stockings by the fire? Shut it. Yule logs burning? What are you even talking about? Beautifully decorated Christmas tree? No… I just.. I just… I don’t have that.
It’s cool. I can’t be everything. I don’t even want to be everything. You know what I do want to be…? I want to be like Nigella Lawson covered in caramel… because then Christmas trees don’t really matter at all.
Oh, and just to be safe… I’ll put a mini Santa hat on my cat and call it a day.
My house smells like Orange Pomanders… I gotta go. The caramel is boiling.
If you’re a spazzzzz like me… here’s a little lesson on properly securing the ribbon.
It’s not a Christmas bow, but I love it all the same.
mare
Any ideas for springtime? I sort of want to do this all year round.
Chrissy
This is so adorable! I will have to remember for next year! xx
adahliavolk.com
Barbara
I’m laughing out loud in my cubicle! Love the “Shut it!” part!!
alyssa
nice lantern! oh, how i love pomanders!
Erin in CA
Years and years ago I made a ribbon-wrapped orange pomander much like these, but I studded the entire thing with cloves! (Except where the ribbon was.) That sucker dried out really well and shrank to about 2/3 of its original size. My sisters’ half studded oranges turned moldy after a week or two. Mine smelled amazing up until I lost it in a move a few years later. We bought a huge bulk container of cloves for the project.
Tracy via the traveling cupcake
Ha! I read this article in the stylist last week, it was quite a sight to see a whole tube car filled with people reading this article with Nigellas caramel drenched face on the cover. Not your usual morning commute! I think everyone went to work a bit happier that day.
Amy @Macncheesenpeas
I made these, and they looked and smelled so festive. Thanks for the great idea!!
Lucia
Oh , it smells soo good! Like fireplaces in winter nights.
Diana
I picked up my holiday decor at Trader Joe’s last weekend for $3.99 – a mini potted Christmas tree that is currently the centerpiece on my dining table. Oh yeah, it’s like Martha Stewart central up in here!
Elizabeth Johnson
Joy,
I wanted to thank you for the gift in the mail! It was very sweet, and I think it will be a perfect gift for one of my cousins. She is just finishing up high school, so a planner like that will be great for her! Thanks again!
Jessica @ Hungrygems
Bold and beautiful with the natural scents of the holidays….the perfect offense to eliminating my roommate’s incessant spritzing of holiday air fresheners…”Oh Jessica, check out my new Pine After My Heart fragrance”- BAM! Pomander to the face!! Can’t wait to try these Joy they look stunning.
Darrell
You know….I was surprised because I have never heard of this. It seems great!!!! Wondering if something similar could be done with pinecones….I like cloves so much!
Ingrid
In Norway we stick 24 cloves in it on December 1st, and pull out one every day until Christms eve : )
However, after making and looking after my own for the first time, I’m starting to suspect that my mum used to secretly change out the oranges when we were little.
Shalan with The Long Road
Is it just me or are those some seriously perfect oranges? You don’t just pick those up at the supermarket. Awesome idea!
Penna.Grundsau
Uh…, I’m a guy,& I kinda wish you’d seriously consider that all mention of you being covered in caramel be carefully left on the wide shoulder of the internet superhighway.
I get your essay & recipes &c in my e-mail; if I have a mental image of Joy the baker having been caramel -coated, my hands tremble too much to write anything…take it easy on us! Just cause it seems we get excited, hyperventilate, growl, grovel and/or drool(however slightly) when we contemplate this sorta thing don’t necessarily mean we ain’t hooman!
Jessica @Sunny Side Up
If only I liked the smell of oranges!! These are gorgeous!
Sarah-Anne
love it!
Mona
Pomanders are the original room fresheners. Before there was Glade or Febreze, there were pomanders. I think I will be making these this year; they look like great little gifts. Thanks, Joy!
Clair
We made these for Christmas every year as kids, but they never looked this beautiful! Now that I’m a bit more dexterous, I might have to revive the tradition and make some of these pretty ones.
Nicola
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wncEeJZqzM
Alex
I can honestly say I have no idea what these are, but they sure do look cute. haha
Melanie
You totally just taught me something new about the holidays. I’m thrilled to recreate your magic…. U got nice designs going on with the cloves an string-I can’t tell you aren’t a lil Martha-y! I love the props you choose, the set up of your shots, and the pics when you doodle and write on paper, the words in your posts, all they beauty that comes out of your work is creative. Creative produces crafty successfully… Pretty Pomanders!
Michelle
I have never heard of this before, but thought they looked so gorgeous that I made my own 2day! Now our house smells sweet & summery – perfect for an australian Christmas. I hung mine on the tree!
Reem | Simply Reem
LOOOOOOVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEE them…..
Such a fun and wonderful craft for holidays….
Beautiful!!!!
Ruth @ the tasty tRuth
I fully plan on “inhaling the holiday.” Thanks!
Alissa
I have seen these around but have never made them! Thank you so much, it’s on my list for this rainy Sunday! I just got back from vacation to the first package from you! It’s AWESOME!! What a great idea! Thank you.
Margaret @ Have a Good Run
I completely forgot that I made these once when I was 9 or 10 years old…thanks for the reminder! I think we ended up completely covering ours in cloves and sticking them in the oven for a bit…they smelled like Christmas!
kale @ tastes good to me!
Loved the pic of Nigella in your link! Reminds me of Woman on Top. Nothing wrong with being sexy in the kitchen. Food is sexy!
Katie
How cute… very festive, Joy. And you said you couldn’t do it.. oh, oh Joy.
Linzleh
Have loved your site for years, but this is my first comment! m Also I’m looking forward to your cookbook as a birthday gift to myself next year, yum. Anyway, since you were heading to the kitchen to make or eat caramel after the orange pomanders… do you have a recipe to share for homemade caramel candy? You know the lovely chunks that stick to your teeth but are oh so creamy, golden and good. Thanks
Stacy @ Say It With Sprinkles
I love making these, but mine don’t usually include the cute wrappy ties! Such a good idea!
Célèste of Fashion is Evolution
I’m obsessed with pomanders of all kinds (and Nigella, of course), but I haven’t made orange ones yet this year. I did, however, just do a mistletoe pomander tutorial on my blog.
Oh, and I totally relate about not being a complete domestic goddess. I’m not even having a tree this year because I’m moving. :(
anna
what a fun craft, and so pretty!
ursula
How long do you think these will last before the oranges start to go a bit soft and then, eventually, mouldy? I would like to make these, but I do not like mouldy oranges.
joythebaker
the oranges will last at least a week. it just depends on the oranges and on your environment. keep an eye on em.
Emily
I had no idea these had a real name. I’ve always just called them clove-stuff oranges. But I can definitely dig on pomanders.
I do love me some Nigella Lawson. Ms. Lawson hung out in my friend’s kitchen a few years ago, wanting to interview her family for their Italian recipes. My friend’s father is a career waiter/cook in London, who emigrated to the city after scraping enough money to ship out of southern Italy when he was a teenager. (He met his wife, who is also Italian, when he waited on her. He convinced her that he needed English lessons and then bam! love.) So a few years ago when Nigella was doing a bit on Italian families in London, she somehow heard about my friend’s father and his legendary waiter abilities/love for food. So the whole family got to hang out and cook with Nigella! So, so jealous. (authority has it that she really is the nicest, most intelligent and humble person around.)
SarahCupcake
Joy, I just made some spiced orange cupcakes with brown sugar icing last night and posted them on my blog today. I thought everyone had forgotten about clove studded oranges (except me, naturally) until I saw your blog. <3
Liz
Love making these. If you are working with children, using clementines instead of oranges makes it a bit easier for them to manage the cloves. Thanks
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen
This is about as domestic as I can muster. There’s about 10 boxes of Christmas stuff in my attic which I just cannot summon the energy to take down and spent hours arranging and decorating. Hoping some magic elf comes and does it for me.
JenMarie
Oh, I love this. I wondered if it would really smell that great, but everyone’s comments assure me! I will definitely try this!
Carrie@ Bakeaholic Mama
Joy, they look cute! And I bet they smell heavenly! I’m good in the kitchen outside of that I’m no domestic goddess either….. I’m a hot mess.
Zoe (Bite This)
Holy smokes! This sooooo reminds me of my mum. She used to make these with clementines every year, with red ribbon, and would hang them all over the house. Oh the smell!! Amazing!!
Eliz. K
I always have to stick a skewer in first, before sticking the cloves in… but they smell so oh-so-good! Lovely Christmas season tradition :-D
Gen
Smells like Christmas time!
Baking Holly
JOy. I would have NEVER thought about this..I know, shame shame shame. :)
I hope you’re having a wonderful holiday <3!
sarah j
Joy,
Childhood trauma of oranges and cloves, those suckers hurt tiny fingers trying to push in those stupid cloves. I was a child of a Martha Stewart mother. Granted smells lovely. But all I can think about are ouchie fingers.
:) Sarah
joythebaker
a martha steward mother.
Melissa L.
I remember making these in 5th or 6th grade. Haven’t made them since. I think it’s the only time I like cloves! ;)
Dalai Lina
Oh, but you do know how to take a good picture!
Stoich91
Beautiful and festive! Wow!
Rebecca@A Dusting of Sugar
Oh! These! I have horrible memories of having to make apple versions of these in 5th grade, and just sitting on the floor of my classroom poking cloves into an apple until my thumbs were raw. We had to cover THE ENTIRE SURFACE. Then rolled them in cinnamon. Smelled amazing, but it was totally child torture.
Beth
Aaaaand now you’re all set to walk into a wild SCA party and play the Cloven Fruit game! :)
Amanda (onceuponarecipe)
Mega cute idea! I bet they smell fantastic too!
Courtney
We’re having a cookie exchange party in a couple weeks and I think these would make terrific a) table decor and then b) party favors. Thanks for the inspiration!
Sandi
Thoughtful and pprettyy gift idea for office friends. Done. Thank you!
Extra thanks for the “spaz” instructions, I will so need that :)
Casey @ The Baker Bee
So I’ve never seen Pomanders before… until this week. I’ve seen them all over the freaking place! Looks like I might have to jump on that bandwagon.
Lauren
What a fab smell to have wafting through you house – now I know what I’ll be doing with some oranges soon!
Niamh
I love these! I’m so excited to make some. I made them when I was little but had forgotten all about them…they’ll be a new Christmas tradition in our house starting now! and I love Nigella – she rocks!
Naomi A.
My mom used to make these every Christmas! She never rolled them in anything, that I remember, yet they still dried out without molding. Hmm…
tj
…Okay, so you’re just a Goddess. ;o)
…I used to roll mine in Orris Root Powder but you can also do this:
Roll the orange in a mixture of 1 tablespoon each: cinnamon, nutmeg and ground cloves until it is completely and evenly coated. Next leave the orange in a paper bag and place in a cool, dry area for approximately 4-6 weeks to dry the pomander out. Roll the orange in the spices daily. Note: If you notice any mold or the orange decomposing then throw it out. Curing time varies anywhere from 3 weeks to 6 months. On average it’s about 3 1/2 weeks. To check if your pomander is dried, it should sound hollow when tapped with your knuckle, and feel light in weight. Once dried, shake off any excess spices. (source: http://www.pioneerthinking.com/pomanders.html)
…I’ma bit of a Domestic Goddess (more dork than goddess:o). I love to decorate, bake, cook, garden, sew…you know, all that Grandmotherly stuff. And I have box after box after box of Christmas decor stored upstairs, which is slowly making its way downstairs at this time. :o)
…And btw, I received my first ENJOY package yesterday – THANK YOU! You’re right, when I opened our mailbox there was of course, bills! Gack! :o\ A few catalogs, ’tis the Season. And a small package, heart skipped. I didn’t pay much attention at first but as I was unloading groceries from the back of my car into the house that package was all that was on my mind. Who is that from? What’s in there? Life had gotten in the way and I had forgotten about my sweet gift from a fello’ JTB Peep (Thank you!:o)
Anyway, I finally sat down and opened the package and it was then that I remembered. My heart felt like it was gonna burst! It so brightened my day and yes Joy – it IS awesome getting a little somepin’ in the mail. I love it! Thank you to the Anon’ Peep who did this and thank you Joy for everything! :o)
…Have a spectacular weekend! :o)
…Blessings
Julie H. of Spinach and Sprinkles
I made these is 2nd grade. They are the most wonderful things to have around during Christmas time! Heavenly smell that lasts for quite a while! ….Cute work, Joy!
Dar
My friend showed me these but hers keeps oranges keep rotting. Do you have a tip for this? On the martha stewart website, they use some weird powder to dry them out.. but if you have an easier trick, that’d be cool! I love the smell of citrus and cloves!
tj
…Hi Dar, it’s Orris Root Powder that they should be rolled in to deter mold. I ordered mine thru a wholesale spice catalog years ago. :o)
Mavis
Nigella Lawson claiming her on the cover of a magazine covered in caramel isn’t sexual? Priceless!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
How freaking cute are these?! Love it!
Ashley @ theSharpWife
They should make a candle that smells like these. That would be easier… although not as cute and a lot less domestic.
Clare @ SweetnSimple
Cute! Bet they smell amaaazing.. love the idea :)
Sara
Awww. These are one of my favorite holiday “things”. Love them, love the smell. Love that they are so EASY, and pretty too!
Holly
Interesting! I have some oranges and cloves lying around – if I can find them in my spice box…. and I always wondered what a pomander was.
Anne Thomsen
This reminds me of my childhood
Olga
you know how to use a lip liner… god, you ARE perfect!
Glo
I think you are right on with your going back to the wonderful gift of giving simple gifts made with love and joy……..creating memories is like the fragrance of cloves in a beautiful California orange. Keep up the great inspirations, and Merry Christmas to you.
Charis
I can only imagine HOW awesome that must smell!
Have to try it.
Katie
Cute! That Nigella article is great. I love that she calls butter and cream ‘moisturizer for the insides’!
joythebaker
she’s amazing..
Zee @ The Recipe Code
I love the smell of orange and cloves.. I have never tried this yet but I am sure this is an amazing idea!
Helene @ Homebound
they look pretty, and i can imagine that lovely smell… by the way i LOVE your christmas header!!!
Hannah @ Sparrow + Spark!
These are so festive. They remind me of a craft evening my mom hosted a couple of years ago to use up a surplus of oranges and dragging us all into it when loads of people cancelled! I will never forget my Dad trying to put the cloves in the orange. They smell wonderful!
Ellen
Yes! I had forgotten about the awesomeness of pomanders. Handy little things for those of us who cannot wrap a present or tie a proper bow, which I really can’t:)
I am loving the holiday smells…
Ann P.
I love these–so pretty, festive, and fragrant! They’ve got a vintage-y vibe to them that I really dig. I can imagine Laura Ingalls Wilder making these for Christmas :)
joythebaker
totally!
Cathy
I made these, and like another poster I covered my oranges completely. After that I rolled it around in cinnamon then set it in a pretty glass bowl. It lasted forever and smelled so good my 18 year old son wanted one for his room!
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga
I didn’t even know oranges with cloves stuck into them had a name: Pomanders!
Shows you what I know. lol
I bet these smell…heavenly!!
And I am diggin’ your new header. CUTE and festive :)
Holly S.
Am I the only one who doesn’t get what these are for? Potpourri? Seems like a waste. Do you eat them? I remember doing apples with cloves when I was a kid and drying them, but I think they were for eating? Clove-flavored withered apples? Umm…Mmm?
Sydnee
Potpourri, really. They last forever, so it’s not really a waste. The apple thing is exactly what this is, but they’re not for eating. They dry out if left in a cool, dry place in your house but continue to smell awesome for weeks and weeks.
Steph @ Lick My Spoon
i LOVE that cover of Nigella! As well as this sentiment: [On Nigella’s high-fat policy] “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with cream and butter — I see them as moisturiser for the insides.”
Sarah
Those are SO cool and festive. And doable. I’ve been wanting to do some creative for the holidays, but have been so busy. These look like something I have the time for.
claire
Oh, man. My mom used to make those (sans strings, more cloves) and put them by our wood burning stove. They smelled so awesome! Thanks for taking me back.
AnnaBananaC
I was and am a huge fan of the Little House books and was inspired this year to try and make a clove apple, then a clove tangerine – my apartment smells wonderful when I walk in – the spicy, sweet smell is not overpowering and sickening like most commercial air fresheners are to me.
Laurie {Simply Scratch}
I bet these smell like citrus-clove HEAVEN! *sigh*
Rebecca
Uhmm… I had an American Girl doll themed party (Felicity!) as an 8 year old and definite made these as one of the crafts. Smells so good you could eat it… but don’t.
Lynne @ 365 Days of Baking
Oh. My. Goodness!! Joy, you just brought me back big time to sitting in Brownies (the younger Girl Scouts, not the food – haha, just thought I’d clarify since we are food bloggers) poking those cloves into the oranges!! And we didn’t just do a few cloves, either. Unh-uh. We covered the whole thing in cloves. Dang, did my thumb hurt!!!
It smelled absolutely wonderful though and my mother loved her Christmas present from a 7 year old with a raw, red thumb.
Marleena @ The Flex Foodie
These are so simple and pretty! I used to make these with my mom when I was little, so this bring back all of those warm fuzzy memories… They’re on my To Do list now! Thanks! :D
Heather (Heather's Dish)
so adorable…that’s more domestic than i’ve been in a while!
Annie @ Annie's Cooking Lab
Those are so cute- and I bet they smell amazing!